Cover for chambers, water-closets, &amp;c.



No. 672,9l2.

Patented Apr. 3o,-|90|. I w. 0. MILES;

COVER FOR CHAMBERS, WATER CLOSETS, &.c.

(No Iodel.)

(Application filed Jan. 18, 1901.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIS C. .MILES, OF JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY.

COVER FOR CHAMBERS, WATER-CLOSETS, C.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 672,912, dated April 30, 1901.

Application filed January 18, 1901. Serial No. 43,738. (No model.)

, childs reducer in two positions, onein dotted lines and the other in full lines. Fig. 2 is a plan view of that which is shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail of the reducer proper, folded for transportation. Fig. 4 is a detail of the reducer-cover folded for transportation. Fig. 5 illustrates a modified construction.

The opening in the covers or seats of water-closets as now constructed and also the opening or mouth of an ordinary bedroomcham ber as now usually constructed are made of such size as to be adapted to use by adults.

Consequently they are not adapted to use by children, since the opening is too large to suitably support their little bodies. In order that these devices may be used by small children, it has heretofore been customary to make what might be called a false cover,

usually of thin wood in the form of a tablet or board, through which there has been made a hole or opening of a size adapted to the body of a child. Also bedroom-chambers of small size have been made. The false seat or cover referred to has necessarily to be of such size that it is an inconvenient device to have about, since its use is suggested by mere inspection of it, and the small or childs chamber is likewise an undesirable feature, because it necessitates two such articles instead of one of the normal or adult size. More particularly, it is impossible for either of these devices to be used in any place excepting at the home or residence of the parties. While traveling or visiting at other places than their own homes these conveniences usually are not present. This occasions a great deal of inconvenience and annoyance not only to the children, but to their parents as well.

The purpose of this invention, therefore, is

to provide appliances which conveniently supply the above-statcd want, not only for local or residential use, but also, by reason of their peculiar construction, they are adapted to convenient transportation and use in any and all places.

A illustrates the bowl of an ordinary chamber or water-closet.

Bis what I term the reducer. It is made in the form of a ring or of such other contour as necessary to properly fitthe open mouth of a chamber or the opening or hole through the seat or cover of the water-closet, as the case may be. It embodies the laterally-projecting flange shown, which rests upon the upper rim of the chamber or upon the cover or ring of the water-closet seat, as the case may be, and has also a downwardly-depending portion C, which fits within the opening stated, whichever it may be. The opening through this ring is made of such size and shape as desired to adapt it to use by a child.

D is the cover for the reducer, which may be made in the form shown-that is to say, circular or otherwiseand has preferably a downwardly-extending portion E, which may be made integral with or suitably connected to it. The purpose of the part E is simply to center and properly hold the part D in position relative to the ring.

I sometimes employ a packing-ring F, of flat rubber or equivalent material, which may be attached to the ring B or to the part E, either in the place shown or at any other suitable place. This packing-ring F is useful for two purposes. First, it prevents the escape of noxious odors, and likewise it may be so made and ofsuch proportions that the part E of the cover D shall crowd somewhat against this packing-ring upon the insertion or adjustment of the cover within the ring in such manner that when the cover is lifted the ring will come away with it, thus constituting the two parts practically the same in operation as an ordinary cover, yet because the parts are detachably attached afiording the possibility of use of the ring B as a reducer for children, as stated. Any suitable means other than the packing F (of which-there are many known) may be used to detachably attach the parts together for the purpose stated.

In order that the device may be easily trans- I on ported, I sometimes out the ring B, and also the cover D and the part E, in two transversely, as shown in Fig. 2, and hinge them together by hinges G and G, as shown, and in order that they may be held in flattened or opened-out condition I prefer to supply these parts with a hook and staple or the equivalent H. The hook and staple are shown only as applied to the ring B, because they will be employed upon that part only as a general thing. If desired, however, they can be attached to the cover D or the part E thereof, as preferred.

In Fig. 5 I show substantially the same device; but the cover is in a modified form. In-

stead of being made of wood or equivalent material I make it of metal, which may advantageously be stamped sheet metal, confined or hinged at its rear end by springhinges J, the pivot or axis of the cover being made, as shown, elliptical in cross-section or of other desired shape, so that the elasticity of the spring-hinge J will normally hold the cover down and also normally hold it when lifted.

The packing-ringFinstead of beinglet into recesses in the ring B may be made in the form of a cord or strip, (round in cross-section or of other desired shape,) as shown at L in Fig. 4, and connected to the cover D or to the depending part thereof E, and it obviously is not essential that the depending part E should be integral with the cover proper. It may be a separate piece-for instance, in the form of a block screwed or otherwise attached to the part Dor it may be in the form of a metallic ring or flange, sectional'or continuous, or the entire cover may be made of metal, in which event it may be spun or otherwise formed so that it will embody means for properly centering the cover. The ring may also be made of metal, if preferred.

Obviously the ring B and the cover may be out and hinged at more than one place, if desired, thus enabling them to be folded more compactly.

The operation of the apparatus is obvious from the foregoing.

It will be sufficient to state that by the use of myinvention a chamber-cover is provided adapted to serve all the purposes of an ordinary cover for a chamber adapted to use by ad ult-s and yet by reason of the presence of the invention adapted also to convenient use by children. Thus one and the same structure is adapted to dual purposes. Also owing to the fact that the reducer-ring B and the cover are divided into parts suitably hinged together they may be conveniently folded and transported in a satchel, trunk, or otherwise and may be used upon water-closet seats of the ordinary kind wherever foundas, for instance, in the toilet-r00 ms of railwaystations, railway-cars, and the like, or at hotels, private residences, &c.

Having described my invention, I claim- 1. The combination of a reducer-ring and a continuous cover adapted to use with it, both together constituting a closure for the vessel, the cover being frictional ly attached to the ring, and a packing between the cover and the ring, for the purposes set forth.

2. The combination of a red ucer-ring,a continuous cover adapted to use with it, whereby both together consl itute a closure for the vessel, and a packing interposed between the two in such manner that it will be compressed when they are engaged with each other, thus frictionally connecting them, for the purposes set forth.

3. The combination of a reducer-ring and a continuous cover adapted to use with it, which taken together form a closure for the vessel, both said parts being divided into two parts suitably hinged together, for the purposes set forth.

4. The combination of a reducer-ring, a continuous cover adapted to use with it, so that both together will constitute a closure for the vessel, means to prevent the ring from slipping oif the vessel, means to prevent the cover from slipping relative to the ring, and means to detachably attach the ring and cover together, for the purposes set forth.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 15th day of January, A. D. 1901.

WILLIS 0. MILES.

Witnesses PHILLIPS ABBOTT, WILLIAM FOX. 

